The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1887-07-07
1857
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1 s63. 6ettyhburf' 1857
" Peace hath her victories no less renowned than
war;"

The End of July, 1887, will be COM
in history as the day on
which victory was inscribed on the
banners of the wearers of the blue
and the gray, one bravely battling fol-
the Union, the other seeking its dis
in the dark and anxious
d. ays of fraternal strife, which will be
m ore lasting than the triumphs ofarm
ed conflict The survivors of the brave
men who withstoou the desperate
charge of those, equally brave though
misguided, at Gettysburg, on which
hung not only the issue of that battle,
but possibly OF the struggle for the
Union, twenty four years previous,
met TO exchange kindly and fraternal
greetings, in place of missiles of death.
The death knell of inscriptions par
tisanship and unprincirled zealOts,
seeking to exalt to power and official
influence those who would keep alive
the animosities engendered during the
war, is sounded in all such reunions
The blue and the gray blend no longer
in strife, but rather in rivalry in devo
ton to the flag which once meant vic
tory to the one and defeat to the other.
The sincerity of the declarations of
loyalty to the flag which once was the
target of those seeking to trail it in
the dust of defeat, the men who fought
under it's folds leave to the question:
inys of those more valorOus in words
than deeds, and who shine as lumina-
aries of sectional hatred and strife,
rather than promoters of peace and re-
stored loyalty to the emblem ofstrength
and defense of our common country.
and which the breeze of all sections
shall float as the pride and safeguard
of a nation, divested of strife, save in
the paths of peace and loyal citizen
chip.
We condense the folle wing from the
telegraphic report of the proceedings
GETTYSBURG, Pa, July 2.
Five hundred survivors of the Sixty
uinth, seventy first, Seventy second,
and One Hundred and Sixth Regi
ments, composing the Philadelphia
Brigade during the war of the rebel
lion, which bore SO cOnsicuous part
in the third days fight at Gettysburg
when confronted by General Pickett's
division of the Confederate army, ar
rived today to meet the survivors OF
Pickett's division on the ground where
thew met i'm bloody conflict twenty.
four years ago. The city presented an
animated scene tonight. The streets
were brilliantly illuminated and filled
with thousands of people. During the
day visitors arrived on all trains, and
when the Philadelphia Brigade srriv
ed at 6 O'Clock with two thousand more
the hotels and boarding houses over
flowed, and quarters were as hard to
find as they were twenty four years
ago tonight. At s o'clock Mrs. Geu-
eral Pickett arrived, accompanied by
her con, aud was Immediately driven
to the Springs Hotel. After securing
quarters, the Philadelphia Brigade
escorted by the Grand Army Band OF
Gettysburg, marched to the Harrisburg
depot to receive their guests. AT S:35
ringing cheer from the Philadelphia
Brigade was promptly and heartily
answered by the well known rebe
| yell, announcing that the visitors had
arrived, and 200 of Pickett's veterans
marched out and surrendered them
selves to the hospitality of their friends
AS the procession moved along Cham
bersburg street to the public square
cheers greeted it The Confederates
who were armed with rockets, dis
charged them as they marched along
| i,,.. no or III
in their midst, the only flag in line
and responded heartily to the greet
ings, with their peculiar battle yell
so we'll known here, to the great de
light of the assembled crowds. WheL
the procession reached Center Square
the Union and Confederate lines wer,
drawn up faciug each other. The Con
federates stepped forward, saying
+" Here we are once more together :
LET US shake hands :" Let us trade
cofIee ~ The bands played WAY
Down South in Dixie" fireworks Iii
up the sky, and all the people cheered
| At $50 o'clock the procession moved
to the court house. where campfire
was held The doors were thrown
open and the band entered, followed
| by Pickett's men. In q few minutes
the building was filed to overaowing
When all was ready General Burns
assisted Mrs. General Pickett to the
stand, and amid tremendous cheers
which shook the building. introduced
her aud her son to the audience. Sht
was visibIy affected, and with Difficult
| ty restrained the tears. Whenever
General Picketts name was mentioned
the cheeLing was tremendous. Wher
Colonel Aylett, becoming excited anC
branching off somewhat from his pre-
pared Grafton, lauded the flag of thu
| Union, the whole audience al Ose anC
shouted itself hosrse. AS soon as th'
Presidents letter was read Gen. Burns
jumped up and proposed three cheer.
for the President of the United States
These were given standing, and with
telling effect. After the reading o
General Sherman's letter w. 3. Stock
ton arose aud presented Burgess Tip
ton, who in q very few words welcom
ed them and rendered them the hospi
tality of the place. Pickett's men wer4
then assigned to their quarters. Thus
ended the first campfire ever held be
tween the Blue and the Gray.
At 8 O'Clock the meeting was called
to order by John w. Frazier. who said
LADIES, COMRADES AND FRIENDS
The high honor of calling this meet
ing to order has been assigned to me
This is, as you all know, the first fra
ternal meeting between the Blue anG
the Gray that has taken place on these
historical grounds. Standing beside
the last resting place of the honored
dead who here gave the last full
measure of their devotion to the Un
ion, 1 say to you that these fraterna
meetings of the Blue and the Gray
will do more to. create and maintain
sincere and lasting fellowship among
the people of the whole nation than
anything else that has taken plsce
since the war for the preservation o.
the Union ended, and / hope to see
them, as I believe they will be, held
all along the line from Gettysburg tC
| Vicksburg. ] now have the pleasure
of presenting Comrade w. 8. Stockton
as the presiding officer of this meet
ing, with the statement that to him
more than to any other, is due the
credit of bringing it about"
Mr.. Stockton, upon assuming the
chair and returning thanks for the
henor, closed his remarks by saying
he believed what was done and sale
here at this fraternaI meeting of ths
Blue and the Gray would mark new
| f.,s~ -,